In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by DALI. DALI Rubikore 2 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Rubikore On-Wall is a On-wall speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Rubikore 2 and DALI Rubikore On-Wall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Rubikore 2 | DALI Rubikore On-Wall |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.14" Soft-Dome | 1.14" Hybrid dome + planar |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood fibre | 6.5" Wood fibre |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-26k Hz | 59-34k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-150 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.78" x 7.68" x 13.19"
350 x 195 x 335 mm | 18.31" x 10.94" x 5.59"
465 x 278 x 142 mm |
|---|
Rubikore 2 and Rubikore On-Wall are members of DALI's Rubikore series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
DALI Rubikore Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Rubikore 2 and Rubikore On-Wall are 2-way speakers.
DALI Rubikore 2DALI Rubikore On-Wall
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
DALI Rubikore 2 |
DALI Rubikore On-Wall |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.14-inch
|
1.14-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Rubikore 2 features a 1.14" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the Rubikore On-Wall features a 1.14" Hybrid dome + planar Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900 / 14000Hz.
Frequency Response
Rubikore 2 has a frequency range of 50-26k Hz whereas Rubikore On-Wall has a frequency range of 59-34k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Rubikore 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Rubikore On-Wall's min frequency of 59Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Rubikore 2 and Rubikore On-Wall have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Rubikore 2 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Rubikore On-Wall's is at 88.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the DALI Rubikore On-Wall a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Rubikore 2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Rubikore 2 and the Rubikore 2 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 150 watts RMS, though Rubikore 2 is rated 40-150 watts and Rubikore On-Wall 20-150 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Rubikore 2 and Rubikore On-Wall features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare DALI Rubikore 2's and DALI Rubikore On-Wall's external dimensions. DALI Rubikore 2 has external dimensions of 350 x 195 x 335 mm () whereas DALI Rubikore On-Wall has external dimensions of 465 x 278 x 142 mm ().
DALI Rubikore 2 is 83mm narrower and 115mm shorter than DALI Rubikore On-Wall but it is also 193mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
DALI Rubikore 2 needs about 65% more floor or shelf area. DALI Rubikore 2 is 193mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. DALI Rubikore On-Wall is 115mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the DALI Rubikore 2 is approximately 653.2cm2 / 101.2inch2 and base area of the DALI Rubikore On-Wall is approximately 394.8cm2 / 61.2inch2. The Rubikore 2 requires 65% more surface area than the Rubikore On-Wall which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.